The Texas Public Utility Commission signed a sixth loan agreement through the Texas Energy Fund’s in-ERCOT loan program, up to $370 million for a new 455-MW gas-fired plant in the Houston area.

ERCOT stakeholders endorsed a 1,109-mile, single-circuit 765-kV backbone project that is projected to cost nearly $9.4 billion in capital costs, making it the largest initiative in decades.

ERCOT staff told Texas regulators they plan to file two urgent protocol changes with the Board of Directors in their latest push to design a new ancillary service that further strengthens the grid’s resource adequacy.

Texas regulators approved ERCOT’s methodologies for determining minimum ancillary services for 2026 while hinting at the same time that they are considering discontinuing the use of conservative operations.

ERCOT can ensure long-term reliability with its energy-only market, but it must operate its grid less conservatively for that to happen, said Potomac Economics President David Patton.

ERCOT has told the Texas Public Utility Commission it has prioritized a project in 2026 to gather information from the more than 200 GW of large loads in the interconnection queue.

Texas Gov. Greg Abbott appointed Morgan Johnson to the Public Utility Commission, adding a fourth member to the five-person panel.

ERCOT has told its market participants that the Texas attorney general's office has served the grid operator with a civil investigation demand in connection with an ongoing investigation.

The Gulf Coast Power Association celebrated its 40th anniversary — and the Texas Public Utility Commission’s 50th — during its annual fall conference.

Texas regulators have approved the first transmission project in the Permian Basin Reliability Plan, along with several other projects.